“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”- 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Let love be genuine. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary:

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Romans 12:9-21

This is the standard by which we should love. It’ll take us our whole lives & probably we won’t get even close, but our strive will make a world of difference.

“I don’t need to know you too much to love you, because my love for you is not based solely on your character, but on your humanity”- qualia for life

‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself’- Mark 12:31 – is a powerful statement; it’s hard to warp our minds in it & fully embrace its concept. But the fact is, it implies no less than how we should feel towards one another. How to get there, you ask me? I wish I knew exactly. My take is that being at peace & deeply loving ourselves would be a good start. We can’t really love others if we don’t feel worthy of love ourselves. Guess who makes us feel worthy? Yes, you got it! God. For He is love.

“Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.”- 1 John 4:8

Part of self-loving is admitting one’s own flaws & mistakes. It is seeing ourselves as we are as opposed of how we want others to see us. It is no easy task. No masks! Just truth. It’s allowing ourselves to be vulnerable as opposed to needy. Genuine as opposed to almighty. Few things displease me more than people who display all kinds & styles of adulation only to make themselves look good. Who are they trying to kid? It is better to refrain ourselves from this pathetic charade if we’re searching for others’ sympathy. From mine at least. People can tell the difference, maybe not at the moment but soon enough.

Let love be genuine… in its proportion… until it becomes wholeheartedly!